gma is 60!

happy birthday gma!

mom with the kids and her cherry pie on her birthday.

after much discussion we decided to travel to mom's on her birthday and celebrate at the house. meg picked up concannon's cupcakes on her way and the boys and i stopped at dandelion's flower shop, 2 hobby lobby stores, and papa murphy's before we finally got to mom's. as she was irritatingly indecisive about what she wanted for her birthday we took matters into our own hands and her reaction be damned! we bought 12x12 forms, broken glass, seashells, cement mix, and jewels and let the kids put their handprints, names, and artistic touches in the stepping stones for mom's flowerbeds. they really turned out great. we spent the day eating way too much taco pizza and cream filled chocolate cupcakes. the kids played outside. coop collected dozens of sticks. they swam at aunt lana's while becks napped. they watched old disney movies. i think mom really enjoyed our day together. we didn't have anywhere we had to be. i didn't even turn on the ringer on my phone. we just talked and spent time together.

coop and ainsley's stepping stones.

time spent with mom has been scarce the past two years. luckily for us, the office she worked in did away with her position and we have greedily reaped the benefits. coop, ains, and becks have come to know my mother in a way i never knew my own grandmothers. she has spent days and nights and days with them. when ains got hurt she took over the house and the care of the boys, along with my wonderful older sister. they have spent the night at her house, staying up late and getting up early. she has read them countless books and told ainsley stories until she was blue in the face. beckett has had his poor, little face smooched off. coop covers his ears when she walks by him. she has told them stories about her own parents, stories that she told us when we were kids. she loves them in a way that i cannot understand. she holds them when they cry and scolds them when they misbehave and yet, they would still rather be with her than anyone else. when i tell them that someone is coming to visit them and ask them to guess who it is, they always guess gma connie. she makes the best bacon and the best muffins. they know when they go to her house that she will take them to the bakery and tickle their backs when they watch movies at night. she sleeps with them when they are scared and gives them baths in the kitchen sink. she tells them she loves them every chance she gets and shows them in more ways than i knew possible. and for all of these things i love her even more.

me, mom, meg, and the flowers weed sent.

happy birthday mom! we love you!